Bruno Cirillo (Rome / IT), Giulia Duranti (Rome / IT), Gioia Brachini (Rome / IT), Martina Zambon (Rome / IT), Pierfranco Maria Cicerchia (Rome / IT), Simona Meneghini (Rome / IT), Giovampietro Sara (Rome / IT), Pierfrancesco Lapolla (Oxford / GB), Andrea Mingoli (Rome / IT)
Abstract text (incl. references and figure legends)
Purpose In 2019, Electric motorized rental Scooters (ES) have been launched in Italy as an alternative mode of urban transportation, to reduce car traffic. With ES increasing popularity, the ES related injuries also increased. We aimed to investigate the impact of ES injuries on health care system and identify the adjustable risk factors for ES injuries.
Material and Methods All consecutive patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) of Policlinico Umberto I in Rome from January 2020 to September 2022 were retrospectively observed. Demographics, use of the helmet, alcohol intoxication, mechanism of injury, pattern of injuries, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and clinical outcome were analyzed.
Results During the study period, 323 (217 males) patients as riders or pedestrians presented to the ED with ES injuries.Mean age was 29.8 years. Thirty-seven (11,4%) patients were younger than 18 years, 37 (11,4%) were accidents at work.Two riders (0,6%) were documented as having worn a helmet, 8 (2,5 %) patients had blood alcohol level greater than 0.50 g/l. The principal mechanism of injury was rider fall (82,6%), followed by rider collision (12%), while 5,2% were pedestrians hit by an ES. The mean ISS was 4,5; 14 (4,3%) patients presented ISS>16. One or more orthopedic injuries were documented in a total of 270 (83,5%) patients, while maxillofacial injuries were detected in 93 (28,8%). Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) were reported in 89 (27,5%) cases; 12 were severe TBI. Thirty-one (9,5%) patients were hospitalized with mean stay of 9,4 days.Three patients (0,9%) were transferred to the intensive care unit. None died.
Conclusion along with the increasing use of ES, the ES related injuries will increase as well. A national effort is needed to improve the safety profile of ES, through obligatory use of the helmet and limb protections, alcohol avoidance and speed limitations.To our knowledge, this is the first Italian study on the impact of ES injuries on ED admission.
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